Railfanning.org News Wire

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Short Line/Regional

Surface Transportation Board Approves DM&E Request

August 15, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved DM&E’s application to utilize a separate subsidiary to build and operate a new 280-mile rail line into the Powder River Basin. “We’re pleased with this latest victory,” said Kevin V. Schieffer, DM&E president and CEO. “It’s another step closer to our goal of creating the best, safest, most efficient and most modern railroad in the United States.” The STB’s decision, released late yesterday, will help expand the market for financing the $6 billion project. “We have to attract a lot of private financing regardless of the outcome of

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Short Line/Regional

Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support DM&E Railroad Plan to Upgrade Track in Southern Minnesota

August 14, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW ULM, Minn. – By a 7-to-1 margin, Minnesotans favor Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad’s plan to upgrade its existing tracks in southern Minnesota, according to a new statewide survey of Minnesota voters about the railroad improvement plan. Asked why they favor it, supporters most often said that it would improve rail safety. The statewide survey found that 74 percent favor the DM&E plan, 10.4 percent oppose it and 15.7 percent did not know or refused to answer. Minnesotans voiced an equally strong conviction that the project would benefit farmers. The survey found that 71 percent believed the DM&E upgrade

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Amtrak

Amtrak Adjusts Schedule of Pere Marquette to Accommodate Track Work

August 12, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

CHICAGO – Amtrak is temporarily adjusting the schedule for the Pere Marquette service on the Chicago-Grand Rapids route to accommodate major track work planned by CSX Transportation, the owner of the train’s route in Michigan. The temporary schedule will begin Aug. 14 and continue through at least Sept. 7. The changes will compensate for anticipated delays due to the track work. Amtrak is contacting current reservation holders to inform them of the schedule adjustments and will announce when the normal schedule will be resumed. The westbound Pere Marquette will be scheduled to operate one hour earlier from all stations. In

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Commuter Rail

Morning Red Line Service Disrupted Because of Suspicious Package

August 10, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – A suspicious package discovered around 9 a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 9) on the tracks near the New York Avenue-Florida Avenue- Gallaudet U Metrorail station disrupted Red Line service for three hours just after the morning peak period. Normal Red Line service resumed at 12:10 p.m. Throughout the police investigation, Metro suspended train service between the Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations, and established free shuttle bus service. More than 40 Metrobuses stopped at Rhode Island Avenue, New York Avenue, Union Station and Judiciary Square stations. Metro Transit Police, along with other law enforcement were called to investigate

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Miscellaneous

Alaska Railroad to Issue Tax-Exempt Bonds

August 7, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) will issue tax-exempt bonds in this month to finance rail transportation projects. During the last legislative session, the Alaska Legislature voted unanimously to allow ARRC to issue up to $165 million in tax-exempt bonds backed by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds that the Corporation receives annually. ARRC is moving forward with its first issuance of approximately $76 million in tax-exempt bonds in 2006 with the remaining debt to be issued in future years. “This is a historic moment for the Alaska Railroad and Alaskans,” said Governor Bill Sheffield, Chairman ARRC Board

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Commuter Rail

Miami-Dade Transit to Receive Funding For Metrorail Expansion

August 7, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

MIAMI – Federal money will help pay for a Metrorail expansion from the Broward County line south and west to the Florida Turnpike and the FIU South Campus. The money – $2 million in the Senate Appropriations bill of the Fiscal Year 2007 and $1 million in the House bill – is earmarked for the “Orange Line” Metrorail expansion. “The Orange Line is critical to alleviating traffic congestion in Miami-Dade County,” said Transit Director Roosevelt Bradley. “Thanks to the efforts of Federal legislators we are one step closer to accomplishing this major project.”   Miami-Dade County and Transit officials have

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Terrorism/Security

7/11 Blasts Suspect Held in Kashmir

August 7, 2006 Wikinews

An alleged member of the Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba has been arrested by Indian police in connection with the July 11 train bombings in Bombay which killed 200 commuters on the city’s commuter rail network.

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Short Line/Regional

Appalachian and Ohio Rail Workers Approve First Contract as BMWED Teamsters

August 7, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – Track maintenance employees of the Appalachian and Ohio Railroad have unanimously approved their first contract as members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Union. This is the first union contract on the short line railroad since being sold by Watco Companies. “This contract will provide an immediate increase in wages,” said Randall Brassell, General Chairman of the BMWED’s Eastern Federation. “The contract language standardizes pay rates and gives employees access to a 401(k) plan. This is a good first contract.” The contract ratification vote took place Aug. 3 in Buckhannon, W.Va.

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FRA

FRA Grant Supports Continued Development of Positive Train Control Technology

August 5, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration has given a $679,000 grant to the D.C.-based Railroad Research Foundation. The grant means an advanced train control system that can prevent train collisions, reduce the probability of speed-related derailments and protect on-track railroad workers is one step closer to being, the FRA said. The technology being developed will allow passenger trains to safely operate at 110 mph between Chicago and St. Louis in the same rail corridor as slower freight trains. The funding supports the ongoing activities of the North American Joint Positive Train Control Project, a collaborative effort between the FRA, the